2500 miles one quart of oil.

[ls1mike]

Well just completed a 2500 mile round trip to Yellowstone and then back home. The Vehicle a 1989 GMC 1 tone 454 TH400. loaded I was just shy of 15,500 lbs towing my 28 foot 5th wheel.
I went over Snoqualmie pass, Vantage (out of the Columbia river Gorge 10 miles of a 4% to 6% grade)4th of July Pass, Look out Pass and the Continetal Divide. All very large hills.
Good thing is with 185,000 miles I used a 1 quart of oil. I thought that was pretty good. I averaged about 7 mpg and the Transmission temp never went above 200 degrees.
Here is towards the top of Lookout pass.
6% grade.

Trans temp at the top of Lookout pass. I pulled the pass at 3000 RPM in Drive going anywhere from 40 to 55 mph. It would sometimes drop back into second.

Here is the setup where we stayed in Butte the second night.

Trailer and the truck performed flawlessly.
If anyone is interseted I will post more photos from the trip.

 

[addyguy]

That's impressive - I thought BB Chev's were know for high oil consumption - what oil are you running?

 

[SteveSRT8]

Nice rig.

What altitude please?

 

[spasm3]

thats pretty good, all 454's i've ever seen used oil, so with that mileage and only a quart in 2500 is great!

 

[ls1mike]

I have run Valvoline 10W40 since 1995 when I got the truck.

Snoqualmie pass: 3022
4th of July pass: 3173
Look out pass: 4800
Continental Divide: 6800
Continental Divide in Yellowstone(went over a few times): 8300
Vanatage(Ryegrass Summit) 2300 from sea level.

It sucks becuase it is the longets and the hottest of the all the hills you travel on this trip. 10 miles at 4% to 7% grades.

The guys on the RV board call it the Widow maker. I saw 4 dead cars and 2 broke tow vehicles that were fairly new on my trip up it yesterday.
My guess is the two broken Tow Vehicles were being pushed past their limit. That had what appeared to be too big of load for what they were.

1 Impala
1 Accord
1 Jetta
1 Saab
1 Last Generation Tundra, way to big of a Trailer
1 mid 90's Ford, couldn't tell if it was a PSD. HUGE Trailer

Point is no matter what you drive if you are not ready for that hill or push your car to the limit that hill will get you.

My truck has been very good to me. I have to add exhaust manifold gaskets, do the intake manifold gasket last year, do 1 ball joint, 1 radiator, 1 water pump, brakes, tires, belts, hoses and set of shocks in the 150,000 miles I have had it. Over half of the 180,000 is towing.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

I'd keep that truck forever - 'cause she's a keeper

 

[hemitom]

For that type of driving, Exceptional. I agree with ARCO she's a keeper. My brother used to do some dirt track racing with a 80's impala with a 454 he put in it, That engine took some awful abuse, he couldn't kill the engine, destroyed the car around it.

 

[ls1mike]

I was going to update this winter, but it did so dang good lugging the 5th wheel over the Cascades, Rockies and all around Yellowstone that I many just get a set of updated Highback seats and call it good.

 

[Popinski]

LIKE A ROCK

 

[mjoekingz28]

Didnt know they made a one ton. All I've ever heard of is a 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 (1500, 2500, 3500)

Rare truck you got. Also, another rare truck is a regular cab dually. My old friend's dad had one and I've only noticed a few since then (10 yrs ago).

I bet that big block would sound sweet with pipes.

Sound clip/audio track or it didn't happen!

 

[-Clayton-]

Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
Didnt know they made a one ton. All I've ever heard of is a 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 (1500, 2500, 3500)



1500 is a 1/2, 2500 3/4 and 3500 is a 1 ton.

 

[addyguy]

I'm generally a fan of small cars, but I've always been of the opinion that if you are serious about towing safetly, you GOT to use the right equipment.

I think you've definetly got that down pat here! Good job!

 

[HM12460]

I like it!

 

[RacerE7773]

Every time I see an Impala with a hitch I wonder what/if the owner is thinking. "I can pull a big trailer with a FWD."

then

.

 

[mechtech2]

That is GREAT oil consumption!
Maybe the usual high oil use with those big bad boys is from UNDERUSE. The rings are not sealing right until they have some real pressure on them, like you did to it!

Even if you used twice the oil, I would consider it very good.

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
That is GREAT oil consumption!
Maybe the usual high oil use with those big bad boys is from UNDERUSE. The rings are not sealing right until they have some real pressure on them, like you did to it!

Even if you used twice the oil, I would consider it very good.

Underuse will kill it. The only way to get low oil consumption in a 454 is the get the Cylinder pressures up and USE IT!

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
That is GREAT oil consumption!
Maybe the usual high oil use with those big bad boys is from UNDERUSE. The rings are not sealing right until they have some real pressure on them, like you did to it!

Even if you used twice the oil, I would consider it very good.

Underuse will kill it. The only way to get low oil consumption in a 454 is the get the Cylinder pressures up and USE IT!


Well, there's your defense for if (when?) you end up hailed into court: but Your Honor, it has a 454, and it's essential to get those cylinder pressures up!

The Judge, being a cool sort of guy, quotes Jim Croce in response, "95 is the route you were on -- it was not the speed limit sign. . ."

 

[Johnny]

Yes, post more pics in the photo section. Looks like a beautiful trip.

 

[ls1mike]

Johnny, I will do that tonight!

 

[ls1mike]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
Originally Posted By: ls1mike
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
That is GREAT oil consumption!
Maybe the usual high oil use with those big bad boys is from UNDERUSE. The rings are not sealing right until they have some real pressure on them, like you did to it!

Even if you used twice the oil, I would consider it very good.

Underuse will kill it. The only way to get low oil consumption in a 454 is the get the Cylinder pressures up and USE IT!


Well, there's your defense for if (when?) you end up hailed into court: but Your Honor, it has a 454, and it's essential to get those cylinder pressures up!

The Judge, being a cool sort of guy, quotes Jim Croce in response, "95 is the route you were on -- it was not the speed limit sign. . ."

That would be hauling in that Truck. I think 80 is the fastest it has ever been.